Story translation

"A vagabond named Shigeyoshi from Omura village in Kozuke province [present-day Gunma prefecture] and his wife were a tiger-husband wolf-wife [treacherous couple]. They teamed with other villains in a gang of four and hid out in the village of Watanabe in Echigo province [part of Niigata prefecture]. A police official and man-hunter from Saitama prefecture named Imanari Shinzaemon went all out and finally captured them. He was transporting them by boat to the prefectural office at Kashiwazaki in Niigata when they found an opportunity to trick the boat captain. They both slipped off their handcuffs and restraining ropes, overcame the suprised Imanari Shinzaemon, and tied him up and strangled him to death with his own ropes. They then escaped across the sea. This occurred on the 15th day of the 8th month of the 5th year of Meiji [17 September 1872]. Justice will be slow but sure in coming. And the culprits will hopefully be apprehended before much longer. Written by Tenka Rojin"